Rotary valve for internal-combustion engines.



E. P. DU FONT. ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 13, 1910. 1,038,319. Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

3 SHBETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES.

E. P. DU FONT.

ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL GOMBUSTIONBNGINBS.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 13, 1910. t d S 1,038,31 9. Paten e ept. 10, 1912 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

y e mi 7 f Y F/G.4. F765; 1

ATTORNEYS.

E. P. DU PONT.

ROTARY VALVE FQR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1 910.

1,088,3 1 9. Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

3 BEBETB-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS.

mnvssss: #vvswrm F/GJO. a d M W 5 M BY PWH/LA/QLZ nnnu'rnnnn PAUL nu PONT, or Mon rcHAnm', DELAWARE.

ROTARY VALVE FOR rnrnarran-comnusrron ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10,1912.

Application filed May 13, 1910. Serial No. 561,038.

for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide I a construction permitting the employment of a rotary valve, with all the-known advantages incident thereto, and in which leakage isentirely obviated.

The invention consists of a peculiar construction and arrangement of valve and valve casing, together with means for operating the valve in unison with the cylinder piston, as hereinafter described and as pointed out specificallyin the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general.

view partly in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the valve chamber on the lines 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top view partly broken away. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the lines H and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the valve chamber in a modified form of my invention. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, of still another modification. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the valve and valve actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

a is the cylinder, 6 the reciprocable piston therein connected by crank c with the crank shaft (1 turning in bearings in the cylinder casing.

e is a valve casing mounted on the cylinder, and j a rotatable valve shaft extending through the valve casing but held from longitudinal movement therein. The valve shaft is driven from the crank sh'aft by means of a pinion g on the crank shaft, a pinion 70 on the valve shaft, and an intermediate countersh.aft 71 carrying pinions k and j meshing respectively with pinions g and la, the counter shaft 2' turning in hearings in brackets Z, Z, on the cylinder casing.

Feathered on the valve-shaft f is a valve composed of two members m and neonnected by a neck 0, of which m is the valve proper and n is the valve-head that cooperates with means on the valve casing to shift the valve longitudinally at proper intervals.

The valve-sh fting contrivance' comprises an endless peripheral groove 9 in the valvehead and a plug 9 threaded in the wall of the cylinder and carrying a pin r engaging the groove p. The groove p extends around the valve-head in a plane at right angles to the valve axis for a distance somewhat less than a complete circumference, thence in a direction oblique to the axis of the valve, thence in another plane at right angles to the valve axis fora distance somewhat less' than a complete circumference, and thence returns obliquely to the assumed point of beginning of the groove; the two oblique extensions of the cove intersecting. It will be understood that this arrangement causes the valve to rotate in one plane for the greater part of one complete rotation of the crank shaft or one complete reciprocation back and forth of the piston, then to shift longitudinally on its shaft in one direction, then to rotate in another plane for the greater part of one complete rotation of the crank shaft, and then to shift longitudinally in'the opposite direction.

Opemng through pp e walls of the valvec asing, opposite the valve member m, are supply port as and exhaust port z is a port connecting the valve-casing and the cylinder casingand located in such position that it is open in one longitudinal position of the valve and closed by the valve head 'n, in the other longitudinal position of the valve.

The valve member m, from ,near its outer end to its inner end, is cut away' on one side for a distance substantially .equal to, or slightly less than, the distance between the inlet and exhaust ports. ably recessed between its periphery and its hub at opposite sides of its cutaway portion.

The valve-head a between its outer or It is also prefergrooved end and its inner end, is provided ment, commences to uncover the port 2.

It will be understood that at each rota-- --5,tion of the valve its interior communicates alternately with the intake and the exhaust, butthat communication between the intake 2 and exhaust and the cylinder port'is out off I I sit-alternate revolutions of the valve hy the sliding of the latter in its casing as hereinbefore described. It will therefore be clear 1 45' vention to, for example, an automobile-a valve casing; y the exhaust port in the;

that the cycle of operations .is as follows: The'valve shifts to the right (Figs. 1 and 3) .and the valve connects the piston cylinder witht-he exhaust while the iston is moving up, permitting the dead uid to exhaust from the cylinder; then the valve in its con-1 tinned rotation closes the exhaust and co nnects the piston cylinder with theinlet while i the piston is moving down, thereby permitting live motive fluid to enter the cylinder;

and then the valve shifts to the left (Figs. 1

rand-'3), sealingthe cylinder port a dunng the'next rotation of the valve and during the next upward compression stroke and the next downward power stroke of the iston.

It will be observed, as characteristlc fea- .turesofjthe invention, that the interior of the *iralve is substantially at all times in communication with either the inlet or the exhaust, but that such condition is ineffective to connect the cylinderwith either the inlet orexha'ust while the valve is shifted to the left or !during the compression and power strokes of the piston; and that the foregoing constructionlends itself admirabl to an arrangement of packing rings wereby the cylinder. port is efiectual y fclosed with a gas-tightsealduring the compression and explosion-cycles of the engine. 7 While only a single cylinder is shown, it is obvious that, inthe application of the in- }pluralityof cylinders will be employed.

"j In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the valve is shown as geared to the crankshaft in the relation of one totwo; that is,

j'thevalve rotates once for each two revolutions of the crank shaft. To effect this, the gear 9' immediately engaging the gear is on the valve. is shown as one-half the diameter of the latter; f represents the valveshaft,-m', 0", a the valve; e the valve casmg; p the cam groove in the valve member m; g, r, the device fixed on the valve casing and engaging the groove p; s, t, the packing rings; w the supplyport in the i .valve casing; and 2- the port connecting the *val'vechamber and the cylinder. The only essential particulars in which this modifica-v tion diflers irom the form shown in Figs.

1-5 are the arrangement of the supplyand exhaust ports, the sectional contour of the valve member m, and the shape of'the camgroove. The supply and exhaust ports in the modification are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees from each other instead of diametrically opposite to each other, and the length of the cut-away part of the valve member m is correspondingly decreased, the same substantially equaling the distance be.- tween the supply and exhaust ports; while the two inclined portions of the cam groove are on opposite sides of the valve instead of on the same side. The last-named feature is of advantage in that it avoids the intersection of oppositely inclined portions of the grooveaud thereby avoids the Ma bility to excessive wear of the engaging pin. The arrangement of the supply and exhaust ports is such that, during the com ression and ex losion cycles of the engine, t e valve cuts 0 both ports, and the reciprocatory movement of the valve to close the port a does not, therefore, perform in and of itself, the function of cutting off communication between the cylinder and the supply and exhaust ports; but it continues to perform the important functionof closin the cylinder port with a gas tight seal uring the compression and explosion cycles of the engine, the attainment of which result is the main purpose of the invention.

Inthe modification shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the valve is oscillated instead of continuously rotated in the same direction. 6 represents the-valve casing, m 0 n the valve; 8?, t the packing rings; 0: the supply port in the valve casing; the exhaust port in the valve casing; and e the port 'connectin the valve chamber and the cylinder. T e arrangement of supply and exhaust ports is the same as in the modification shown-in Figs. 6 and 7 that is, they are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees from each other, although they may be separated a considerably lesser or greater angular distance.

The valve is given a combined movement of oscillation and reciprocation by the means, shown clearly in perspective in Fig. '10. 7' represents a gear corresponding to gear y in'the first described form of my invention and k the gear directly driven thereby, the gear 70 being of twice the diameter of gear 7". 11 is a crank on the shaft of gear 75 12 is a pin carried by the crank. -14 is a crank pin on the valve, which is not provided with a separate shaft. Pin 14- carries a sleeve 13 slidable on the'crank pin 12. In the rotation of the crank 11, it imparts a movement of reciprocation to the v crank pin 14; in the direction of the latters length, thereby reciprocating the valve. At the same time, an oscillatory movement is imparted to the crank pin-14 and valve, this 18 back and forth upon the pin12. The

number of degrees through which the valve is oscillated depends upon the relative lengths of the cranks, and these members must be so proportioned as to carry the valve through the proper number of degrees required to enable the alternate open-' ing of the ports :0 and 3 to be properly effected. a

The valve member m owing to the absence of a separate. valve shaft is made entirely hollow from the neck 0 to near its outer end and the opening therein through which its hollow interior alternately communicates with ports :12 andy is of a width substantially equal to the minimum distance between these two ports,

It will be understood, from the foregoing description, that at each complete oscillation back and forth of the valve, its interior communicates alternately with the intake and the exhaust, but that communication between these ports and the cylinder port is cut ofl? at alternate oscillations of the valve by the'sliding of the latter in its casing; the cycle of operations being, therefore, the same as that described in the description of the operation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1-5.

The above described embodiments of my invention are intended to be illustrative merely, as it is obvious that the advantages secured thereby can be equally well secured by still other modifications that may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art or which may be dictated by particular conditions that may be encountered in the practical application of my invention to .different constructions of engines.

While the stated object of my invention is to eliminate the disadvantages ordinarily incident to the employment of a rotary valve I do not intend, by the use of the term rotary or rotatable to imply continuous turning of the valve in the same direction, but I intend to include in such term any turning movement (such as the oscillatory movement of the valve of Figs. 8, 9 and 10) as distinguished from a reciprocatory movement.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve casing communicating with the cylinder, a supply port and an exhaust port in the valve casing, a valve in the valve casing, and means to rotate and reciprocate said valve, said valve in one of said movements adapted to alternately open the supply and exhaust ports and in the other of said movements adapted to open and close communication between said. ports and the'cylinder.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve casing, a supply port and an exhaust port in the haust port and the cylinder, and when ro-' tating in the other of its longtudinal positions to maintain said communications closed.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve casing communicating with the cylinder, a supply port and an exhaust port in the valve casing, a rotatable valve ,in the valve valve casing, a valve in the valve casing, and means to rotate and reciprocate casing adapted in its turning-movement to alternately open the supply and exhaust ports, and means to rotate the valve and also to slide said valve longitudinally to alternately open and close communication between said ports and the cylinder.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve casing communicating with the cylinder, a

supply port and an exhaust port in the valve casing, meansto rot-ate and reciprocate said adapted to be interposed between the cyl- I inder and the supply and exhaust one of said movements.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve ports supply port and an exhaust port in the valve casing, a rotatable valve in the valve carried by the valve, adapted, in one of the sliding movements of the valve, to be interposed, between said ports and the cylinder. 6. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination with the cylinder, of a'valve casing communicating with the cylinder, a supply port and an exhaust port in the valve casing, a valve in the valve casing adapted valve having communicating openings adapted to communicate respectively with the supply and exhaust ports and with the cylinder, and means to rotate and reciprocate said valve, said valve in one of said movements adapted to register one of said valve openings alternately with the supply ,to convey motive fluid and wastegases, said casmg, a valve in the valve casing adapted 1 to convey motive fluid and waste gases, said valve having communicating openings adapted tocommunicate respectively with the supplyand exhaust ports and with the f cylinder, and means to rotate said valve to 4 bringrone'of said valve openings into register with the supply port and exhaust port alternately and to reciprocate said valve to alternately open and close communication between the other ofisaid valve openings and the cylinder.

In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder and its pis- 'ton and the crank shaft connected with the iston, of a valve casing, a valve therein, 'riving connections between-the crank shaft and valve imparting rotation to the latter, meanscooperating with said driving means to reciprocate the valve longitudinally, a 'portfbetween the cylinder an in t e reciprocation of the valve, and a supply port and an exhaust port in the valve casing adapted to be alternately opened in the rotation of the valve.

9. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder and its piston','of a valve casing, ports inthe valve casin communicating respectively with the supp y,- the exhaust and the cylinder, a 1 40 rotatable longitudinally movable valve in said casing, said valve being cut away to opencommunication alternately between the supply port and the cylinder portand the exhaustport and the cylinder port, said valve'h'aving a portion adapted, at alternate longitudinal reciprocations of the valve, to nless communication between the cylinder port/and the supply and exhaust ports, and means to rotate and reciprocate said'valve 5 art-harmony with the movement of the piston.

10; In an internal combustion engine, the combination with-the piston cylinder, of a valve casing, ports in the valve casing com- 155 mun-icating respectively with the supply, the

exhaust and the cylinder, a rotatable longitudlna-lly movable valve in said casing comprising a valve member adapted in its rotation to open communication alternately with so the supply port and the exhaust port and a member adapted in its reciprocationto alternately open and close the cylinder port, and

. means to-impartto said valve said movements of rotation and reciprocation.

l1. an internal combustion engine, the

p valve casing 30 adapted "to be alternately opened and closed -pos1t1on extending to one side of said groove,

the other of said members or the valve larged part of the casing, and means to impart to said valve said movements of rota- 30 tion and reciprocation.

12. In an internal combustion chamber, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve casing, a port in the casing opening into the cylindenthe casing being provided with an internal groove at a point opposite said port, the wall of said groove being eccentric relative to the remaining part of the casing wall, a valve in said casing com osed of two members and a connecting nec means to rotate the valve continuously and to move it back and forth one of said members in one longitudinal position of the valve bridging the said groove and in its other longitudinal proper being cut away so as to communicate with said port and groove in the last-named longitudinalpo-sition of the valve, and a casing ada ted to be alternately opened by the valve 1n its rotation in either longitudinal position thereof.

.13. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the iston cylinder,.of a valve casing, ports in t e valve casing communicating respectivel with the supply, the exhaust and the cylin er, a rotatable longitudinally movable valve in said casin comprising a valve member adapted in its rotation to open communication alternately with the supply port and the exhaust port and a member adapted in its reciprocation to alternately open and close the cylinder'port, packing rings surrounding the last-named member'adapted in one position of the valve to extend on opposite sides of the cylinder port, and means to impart to the valve said movements of rotation and reciprocation.

14. In an internal combustione'ngine, the combination with the cylinder and its piston and the crank shaft connected with the piston, of a valve casing, a valve therein, driving connections between the crank shaft and valve impart-ing rotation to the latter, there being an endless groove in saidvalve parts of which lie in two planes at right angles to the axis of rotation of the valve and the remaining parts of which extend obliquely and connect the first-named parts, a stationary 30 member in the valve casing engaging said I in the casing and a port between the cylinder and casing, a valve, means to rotate said valve continuously and to shift it back and forth intermittently, and means comprised in the valve adapted in each rotation to open said supply port and exhaust port alternately and in its reciprocation toopen said cylinder port at alternate rotations of the valve.

16. In aninternal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve casing communicating with the cylinder, a supply port and an exhaust port in the easing, a valve in the casing, and means to rotate and reciprocate said valve, said valve being composed of two members, one member being located in that part of the valve casing containing the supply and exhaust ports and belng cut away to adapt it, in one of said movements of the valve, to alternately open communication between said ports and the interior of the valve casing,

the other valve member being located adj acent -t0 the cylinder port and adapted in the other of said movements of the valve to alternately open and close communication between the interior of the valve casing and the cylinder.

17 In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, of a valve casing communicating with the cylinder at one point only between the ends of the easing, a supply port and an exhaust port toward one end of the casing, a valve in the valve casing, means to rotate and reciprocate said valve, said valve being composed of two members spaced apart, one valve member be ing located inthat part of the valve casing provided with the supply and exhaust ports and being cut away to permit either of said ports to communicate with the space between the members, the other valve member being located at the opposite part of the valve, the first valve member adapted, in the rotary movement of the valve, to alternately open the supply port and exhaust port to said cut-away portion and the second valve member adapted, in the reciprocating movement of the valve to open and close the cylinder port, and packing rings carried by the second valve member near the inner end thereof and adapted, in one position of the valve, to extend on opposite sides of the cylinder ort. p In testimony of which invent-ion, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 10th day of May, 1910.

ELEUTHERE PAUL DU FONT.

\Vitnesses:

M. M. HAMILTON, E. E. WALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

